Knoxed up
Last weekend, I got Knoxed up. It was a too much for one town kinda week. Southern Fried, Sundown in the City, a queer arts gallery show, an art opening featuring my good buddy Bran Rogers, a Wanda Jackson concert, and the International Biscuit Festival.
There was the excitement of Southern Fried. I came as a cheerleader for DC and ended up on a pick up team from Nashville. Kinda felt bad cause I told Rhea (the organizer) that I'd MC some bouts. She sighed a little bit the first night, but said the bouts were covered. I won't talk about scores or places or anything like that, though. I'll tell you about the poetry that moved me.
Firstly, Natalie did the hell outta her poem Cayne-a poem about a multi-system failure the started in ER and ended in the wrongful death of a woman in a New Orleans Parish jail.
My teammate Alita did a quasi persona poem about the black church that shook the pews of those who were inhabited by it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7fCoDtT9nk
In the Finals, Durham did a gutsy group piece about a closeted sibling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=7pClPs2TkLk&feature=related
Hosted the Queer reading with Julia Nance at Patrick Sullivan's Salon. Some of the underage locals couldn't get in, which kinda sucked. We did get 16 poets on the open mike, however. I'd venture to say it was the largest Southern Fried Queer reading ever. Big thanks to Julia for talking sense to me and helping me get it all together.
Had to forfeit seeing Wanda Jackson at 90 proof. I swear I'll see her one day soon.
Bran's opening at Raia was fantastic. I saw a piece I loved and got so possessive that I bought it so that nobody else could have it.
And then there was the International Biscuit Festival. The name itself should be a clue as to how tongue and cheek the whole thing was. Biscuits are not international. In fact, in England biscuit means an entirely different thing. There were biscuits everywhere in market square: pigs in a biscuit, pimento cheese biscuits, biscuits with chocolate.
Last minute, I was asked by one of Bran's friends to be in the Mr or Miss Biscuit pageant. It was supposed to take place on a flat bed truck, but the grey skies relocated it to a tent.
There were four rounds of competition-sports wear (an apron bought, borrowed, or stolen), balancing biscuits on your head while you walk the stage, talent, and interview.
When the host asked what my hobbies were, I said "Taking pictures of old ladies at slot machines, calling bingo when I aint got it, and throwin' baloney on people cars. I came out two steppin', was so scared I'd drop the biscuits in the second round. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/jun/05/biscuit-festival-has-big-turnout/
In the third round, i did the infamous "hambabiscuit" poem, and finally answered a question in the interview round: "If you had to pose in a magazine with nothing but an apron and a rolling pin, what zine would it be and why?" My wit was not that sharp, so all I could come up with was "Readers Digest, cause I'd be absolutely delicious."
I was shocked to be called to the stage as the 2nd runner up! I mean, the whole thing was a joke. And some folks took it seriously. How? Well, I can't tell ya. Let's just say one contestant had a strange similarity to Reese Withersoon in Election. There could only be one person crowned Best Biscuit and the was none other than Jenna Hancock. He trophy was 5 cans of Grands hot-glued to each other and an apron that was hand stitched to say Miss Biscuit 2010.
Rumors are flying under the sunsphere that Miss Biscuit will document her reign with a year long Miss Biscuit gives back: Because the world is her oven. Can't wait!
There was the excitement of Southern Fried. I came as a cheerleader for DC and ended up on a pick up team from Nashville. Kinda felt bad cause I told Rhea (the organizer) that I'd MC some bouts. She sighed a little bit the first night, but said the bouts were covered. I won't talk about scores or places or anything like that, though. I'll tell you about the poetry that moved me.
Firstly, Natalie did the hell outta her poem Cayne-a poem about a multi-system failure the started in ER and ended in the wrongful death of a woman in a New Orleans Parish jail.
My teammate Alita did a quasi persona poem about the black church that shook the pews of those who were inhabited by it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7fCoDtT9nk
In the Finals, Durham did a gutsy group piece about a closeted sibling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=7pClPs2TkLk&feature=related
Hosted the Queer reading with Julia Nance at Patrick Sullivan's Salon. Some of the underage locals couldn't get in, which kinda sucked. We did get 16 poets on the open mike, however. I'd venture to say it was the largest Southern Fried Queer reading ever. Big thanks to Julia for talking sense to me and helping me get it all together.
Had to forfeit seeing Wanda Jackson at 90 proof. I swear I'll see her one day soon.
Bran's opening at Raia was fantastic. I saw a piece I loved and got so possessive that I bought it so that nobody else could have it.
And then there was the International Biscuit Festival. The name itself should be a clue as to how tongue and cheek the whole thing was. Biscuits are not international. In fact, in England biscuit means an entirely different thing. There were biscuits everywhere in market square: pigs in a biscuit, pimento cheese biscuits, biscuits with chocolate.
Last minute, I was asked by one of Bran's friends to be in the Mr or Miss Biscuit pageant. It was supposed to take place on a flat bed truck, but the grey skies relocated it to a tent.
There were four rounds of competition-sports wear (an apron bought, borrowed, or stolen), balancing biscuits on your head while you walk the stage, talent, and interview.
When the host asked what my hobbies were, I said "Taking pictures of old ladies at slot machines, calling bingo when I aint got it, and throwin' baloney on people cars. I came out two steppin', was so scared I'd drop the biscuits in the second round. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/jun/05/biscuit-festival-has-big-turnout/
In the third round, i did the infamous "hambabiscuit" poem, and finally answered a question in the interview round: "If you had to pose in a magazine with nothing but an apron and a rolling pin, what zine would it be and why?" My wit was not that sharp, so all I could come up with was "Readers Digest, cause I'd be absolutely delicious."
I was shocked to be called to the stage as the 2nd runner up! I mean, the whole thing was a joke. And some folks took it seriously. How? Well, I can't tell ya. Let's just say one contestant had a strange similarity to Reese Withersoon in Election. There could only be one person crowned Best Biscuit and the was none other than Jenna Hancock. He trophy was 5 cans of Grands hot-glued to each other and an apron that was hand stitched to say Miss Biscuit 2010.
Rumors are flying under the sunsphere that Miss Biscuit will document her reign with a year long Miss Biscuit gives back: Because the world is her oven. Can't wait!